Taking a positive approach to personal development, Wellness Coaches focus on helping students set and achieve meaningful goals.
The UB Wellness Coaching Program seeks to help students define specific goals related to their overall health and wellness, and to identify and implement actionable steps to achieve their goals.
Using a strengths-based and non-judgmental approach, UB Wellness Coaches assist students in pursuing goals related to academic, physical, social, emotional, relational or spiritual wellness.
Students of all academic levels who are registered for the current semester and have paid heir student health fee will have access to booking an appointment with a Wellness Coach.
Wellness Coaching is a short-term option for students who have a goal in mind and need help formulating a plan to reach that goal. Students meet with their coach for an initial 45-60 minute session to discuss goals, values, and motivations for making the behavior change. After that, students may meet with their coach to follow up one or more times for 20-30 minutes to adjust the strategy and assess progress.
Wellness Coaches are staff and graduate students from the offices of Health Promotion, Health Services and Counseling Services. You are matched with a Wellness Coach based on the days and times you are available to attend your appointments when you schedule an appointment on UB’s EAB Navigate portal. You will meet with the same Wellness Coach for each appointment as you work towards your wellness goals together.
Wellness Coaches partner with students seeking self-directed lasting changes, aligned with their values, which promote health and wellness. With Wellness Coaching, students are viewed as the experts on what they wish to do to improve their well-being. Wellness Coaching does not utilize a mental health diagnosis or mental health interventions.
No, Wellness Coaching is free to currently registered students who have paid the Student Health Fee.
Wellness Coaches typically meet with students for 2-5 sessions to help them meet a wellness goal. However, there are currently no session limits if students decide to continue to meet longer.
Students will be able to meet with Wellness Coaches in-person in the Student Union on north campus or virtually, via Zoom or telephone.
Between May 20th, 2024, and July 1st, 2024, all Wellness Coaching appointments will be held virtually or over the phone due to the Office of Health Promotion going remote due to construction. If you have any questions, please email the Health Promotion office.
No, Wellness Coaching is not a completely confidential resource. Documents generated through the wellness coaching process are part of the student’s education record and are protected by the Family Educational Rights Protection Act (FERPA). However, in order to insure the safety of students, it is our policy to report certain information shared by students with appropriate university authorities or the Students of Concern Team, including but not limited to: evidence of self-injury and the disclosure of the intention to cause harm to themselves or others. We are also required to report the abuse or suspected abuse of a minor, instances of physical assault, and sexual violence as defined by the university’s Student Code of Conduct and Sexual Violence Response Policy. If you have these types of concerns, you may wish to contact Counseling Services at 716-645-2720 or University Police at 716-645-2222 instead.
Preventative health and wellness education
Student Life
University at Buffalo
114 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: (716) 645-2837; Fax: (716) 645-6234
Make an online appointment on UB’s EAB Navigate Portal by clicking the green button below. Call 716-645-2837 if you need help making an appointment.
“Talking to someone about the small changes you can make each week towards your goal is a benefit that is often overlooked. Everyone needs a coach.”
“It's a very calm, no-pressure environment where the coach cares about your situation and wants to help you. You get to choose what you are going to do about your problems, and the coach is there to help you brainstorm and hold you accountable.”
96% Agreed or Strongly Agreed: Meeting with the Wellness Coach helped me develop strategies to meet my wellness goal.
95% Agreed or Strongly Agreed: I would recommend wellness coaching to other students with similar concerns.